With their student identities in hand, Lulumiya and Shor smoothly entered the Saint Istel Academy Library.
Lulumiya had guessed right—Cinderella was in the library, as she saw Cinderella’s attendant Falias and the others at the entrance.
These attendants, lacking student status, were not permitted inside the sacred library.
The moment she entered, Lulumiya was awestruck by the grand decor within.
The Saint Istel Academy Library was very much like the large libraries on Earth: spacious and bright, with the collections and reading areas separated.
Its interior structure resembled a grand shopping mall, with an Atrium full of tables at the center.
Looking up, there were four grand gallery floors, which could be reached by multiple spiral staircases.
The galleries above also had desks and bookshelves, where a few robed scholars were using magic to retrieve books from high shelves.
Looking even higher, she could see the magnificent domed ceiling of the library, its ornate mural making Lulumiya’s pupils contract.
It was a blue-haired woman with open arms, as if offering an embrace.
Her eyes were closed, her mature face radiating an almost divine gentleness, and around her were countless angels with metal helmets, their faces unseen.
Though it was just a mural, Lulumiya felt as if the figure could come alive at any moment, ready to descend and embrace her.
It was probably the effect of magic, she thought.
She had seen the person depicted before—that was the Great Water Spirit Istel, surrounded by god-made angels with twin wings and metal helmets.
The mural cast a religious atmosphere over the whole library, lending the already quiet hall an added sense of solemnity.
Lulumiya didn’t even look at the first-floor Atrium, heading straight up the spiral staircase.
All the books displayed outside in the library could be browsed freely by students, but the more esoteric the book, the higher up it was placed.
Usually, only teachers with profound magical attainment would go upstairs—Cinderella was among them.
Before long, Lulumiya found Cinderella in a red dress at a busy spot on the third floor.
Because no one dared disturb her, this spot had become Cinderella’s exclusive seat; the desk was scattered with books, some even gathering a layer of dust, showing they hadn’t been tidied for quite some time.
The slender Cinderella sat there alone, appearing somewhat desolate.
Lulumiya nudged the timid Shor behind her.
“Her Highness is right there, go hand in the homework.”
“But Her Highness is reading. If I disturb her and she gets angry…”
“Then you’re not going to submit the homework, Senior Shor? If you delay any longer, Fourth Princess won’t have time to grade it.”
Lulumiya’s words hit Shor like a devil’s curse, each word hammering at his heart.
Thinking of Lijie’s request, he swallowed hard, walking forward with the stiffness of a man to the gallows.
“F-fourth Princess, I…I’m a first-year in the Fire Department—”
“Take it back.”
Cinderella didn’t even look up.
The chill in her words made Shor’s whole body tense up, his voice shrinking to barely a whisper.
“This is homework…”
“I’m not in the mood. I don’t want to look at it.”
“Then can I just leave it here…?”
Shor forced himself to say it, his eyes fixed on a corner of the desk where piles of other students’ homework had already accumulated.
But Cinderella’s next words plunged him into despair.
“Leave it if you want. It’s just a pile of waste paper.”
Cinderella wasn’t angry, but her indifference left Shor hopeless.
He couldn’t force the Fourth Princess to look at their homework.
With the conversation at this point, he could only bow his head, give an awkward salute, and return to Lulumiya, dejectedly clutching the homework.
“How’d it go?”
Lulumiya asked, feigning ignorance.
“Her Highness said she’s not in the mood, doesn’t want to look at it,” Shor replied, looking as miserable as a bitter melon.
“What should I do now? Messed up twice in a row, what will Lijie think of me…”
Now it’s my turn.
Lulumiya grinned. She’d let Shor go first to test Cinderella’s attitude toward students.
Today she needed to borrow money from Cinderella and needed a pretext.
Snatching the thin booklet from Shor’s arms, she righteously declared,
“I’ll hand it in for you, Senior Shor.”
Shor’s eyes lit up, but his shoulders slumped again.
“Can you do it?”
“You never know if you don’t try. Just wait for my good news, Senior Shor.”
“A-alright, I’m counting on you.”
Hey, you! Pushing all the responsibility onto me—no wonder you can’t win Lijie over.
Lulumiya rolled her eyes inwardly at Shor, but kept her face unconcerned, urging him to hurry along.
“Don’t worry. Leave it to me.”
“Okay.”
Shor turned and had only taken a few steps before stopping again.
“Miya, you’re a good person.”
I’ve said those words to Amy before too.
A lying woman is like a rose with thorns.
With that thought, Lulumiya watched Shor head downstairs, then composed herself and walked toward Cinderella.
Facing the girl who had nearly killed her before, Lulumiya was understandably anxious, but knowing that getting past this hurdle was key to becoming a great magician—and giving Cinderella a piece of her mind—she mentally replayed stories of enduring hardship, building up her courage as she approached Cinderella.
She said nothing, simply stacking the homework with the others on the desk.
This silent act made Cinderella raise an eyebrow and glance at Lulumiya.
Then, a hint of surprise appeared on Cinderella’s calm face.
“You still dare come to me?”
“I’m Your Highness’s student. This is the Academy—will Your Highness eat me here?”
“I don’t recall having a student like you.”
“That’s because Your Highness has too many to keep track.”
Of course, Lulumiya was making it up—she was in the Water Department, and had no business with Cinderella of Fire and Darkness.
Cinderella didn’t press the matter.
As Lulumiya had guessed, with their half-year agreement in place, Cinderella wouldn’t do anything to her—not out of fear, but out of disdain.
She was simply too weak; if Cinderella really wanted to act, Lulumiya wouldn’t have the strength to resist.
Cinderella kept her attention on her book.
Lulumiya didn’t interrupt, instead quietly tidying the scattered books on the desk.
She moved so lightly that as long as Cinderella was reading, she wouldn’t even notice.
Still, Cinderella frowned.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping Your Highness organize the books. They’re dusty and cluttered; it’s been a while since you’ve looked at them, and they get in your way.”
There’s no such thing as kindness for no reason.
Cinderella saw through Lulumiya’s intentions instantly and snorted.
“You want something from me? If it’s about those five thousand gold coins, go away.”
“No, I already said I’d pay Your Highness back. I would never break my word. Besides, do I look like the type to renege on a debt?”
If you don’t, who does?
Cinderella answered inwardly, but couldn’t be bothered to argue.
She was determined not to relent on the matter of repayment; no amount of effort from Lulumiya would help.
She ignored Lulumiya, so long as she didn’t interfere with her reading.
People like that she’d seen plenty of; without a response, they would eventually give up and leave.
Seeing that Cinderella didn’t plan to pay her any mind, Lulumiya earnestly dusted and sorted the books, categorizing them as best she could.
Even when she encountered words she didn’t recognize or genres she couldn’t classify, she never interrupted Cinderella—instead, she sought help from nearby library staff.
The librarians, being ordinary teachers, could only turn a blind eye to Cinderella’s habit of never returning borrowed books.
After wiping away sweat more times than she could count, Lulumiya saw that it was already noon.
Having read all morning, Cinderella stood up without acknowledging Lulumiya and left with her attendants for the dining hall.
Lulumiya, not one to play the tagalong, went separately to eat in the commoners’ dining area on the first floor.
When Cinderella returned in the afternoon, she found Lulumiya already seated opposite her, and, surprisingly, a steaming cup of hot water by her side, as well as a soft cushion with the church emblem on her chair.
To prevent it from slipping, the cushion’s corners had been carefully tied to the chair with ribbons—something Lulumiya had rushed to fetch from the temple during lunch, straight from Ino’s bedroom.
Cinderella paused as she was about to sit, pursing her lips in displeasure.
“This was your doing?”
“It’s gotten colder, so I was worried Your Highness might catch a chill. It’s more comfortable with a cushion.”
Cinderella said nothing more, nor did she toss the cushion away, simply sitting down to read.
Now and then, she made notes in her notebook, looking much more studious and gentle than her usual icy arrogance.
Lulumiya continued to organize the remaining books on the desk.
After about an hour, the desk was finally tidy.
Cinderella had assumed Lulumiya would get bored and leave once the books were gone, but instead, Lulumiya quietly practiced magic in place, repeatedly casting ‘Water Bullet’ to increase her mana.
Cinderella clicked her tongue.
“You’re too noisy.”
“Oh… then I’ll stop practicing magic.”
True to her word, Lulumiya stopped and went to the first floor to borrow a History of the Continent book.
Seeing that Lulumiya had no intention of leaving, Cinderella’s eyelid twitched.
“Why don’t you go to your master?”
“I’m too useless. Sister Ino doesn’t need me.”
She bought you, yet does nothing with you?
Cinderella wanted to ask, but realized that would only give the idle Lulumiya more reason to stick around, so she held her tongue and resumed her business.
Kids their age rarely had patience, and as for an interest in reading, Cinderella had yet to meet anyone who could rival her.
Even if Lulumiya had a book in her arms, she wouldn’t last long.
But Cinderella had underestimated Lulumiya’s patience.
Whenever Cinderella stood, Lulumiya would pour her water; whenever Cinderella closed a book, Lulumiya would ask which one she wanted next, even offering to fetch it for her, stopping just short of giving Cinderella a back massage.
By three or four in the afternoon, when Cinderella left the library, Lulumiya would insert bookmarks, straighten books, clean the chair and desk—even the hard-to-reach corners.
The next day, when Cinderella returned to her seat, she found her chair much cleaner than before, and the formerly grimy desk spotless and gleaming.
Lulumiya had arrived even earlier and was already sitting across from her.
“What’s Your Highness want to read today?”
“I’ll get it myself.”
“Are you out of paper? I can ask the librarian for you.”
“I have my own.”
“Please have some water, Your Highness.”
The entire morning passed in similar conversation.
Since Cinderella’s seat was right along the main path to the third floor, many teachers and students saw Lulumiya accompanying her, their eyes wide with surprise.
Some even whispered from afar.
A silver-haired young dragon with horns—there was only one in all of Saint Istel Academy: Lulumiya.
And everyone knew about her debt to Cinderella.
For the two to be getting along like this was bound to attract attention.
Moreover, the fact that anyone dared approach the notoriously arrogant and cold Fourth Princess was a miracle in itself.
Everyone knew how difficult she was to deal with.
Yet Lulumiya didn’t see it that way.
After all, Cinderella was royalty, accustomed to having attendants, and a life of being waited on.
The fact that Cinderella hadn’t chased her off meant her presence wasn’t unwelcome.
Perhaps Cinderella just had strong boundaries and liked to keep her distance from strangers.
All Lulumiya needed was to hover at the edge.
Besides, after these two days, Lulumiya saw that Cinderella wasn’t always as sharp and haughty as before—at least, while reading, Cinderella was quite charming, with an intellectual, graceful beauty.
It was worth noting that other students came by to submit homework during this time.
Cinderella gave them the same cold response she had given Shor.
The students could only leave their homework at the far corner of the desk and scurry away.
After a day of this, Cinderella finally let out a sigh of exasperation.
“I told you, don’t think you can pay off your debt with these chores.”
“I’ve never forgotten about the money I owe. I’m just happy to help Your Highness, and it’s my own choice.”
Lulumiya propped her chin in her hands, smiling.
Cinderella’s face turned cold, her old sharpness returning.
“Your personality has changed.”
“It’s thanks to Your Highness for making me realize my past mistakes. I’m grateful to you.”
Cinderella was at a loss for words.
Lulumiya had been perfectly well-behaved these past days, doing nothing that annoyed her.
But Lulumiya never brought up the matter of repayment, leaving Cinderella confused about her intentions.
“You’ve been here all this time—how are you going to pay back the money?”
“That’s a secret.”
“Suit yourself.”
Not wanting to waste words, Cinderella returned to her book.
Lulumiya, meanwhile, snuck glances her way.
Over the past days, she’d noticed Cinderella’s reading preferences: aside from ancient magic texts, she chose books on the history of the Istel Church, god-made angels, and the Original Sin Seal—books only found in church archives and the Saint Istel Academy Library.
This companionship continued until the third afternoon, when Lulumiya saw several more groups of students turned away after submitting homework.
The pile of homework was now like a small mountain, cluttering up Cinderella’s light.
When another group left, Lulumiya, seeing Cinderella hadn’t yet resumed reading, pretended to tidy the homework and asked tentatively,
“You’re not going to deal with all this homework?”
“It’s just a pile of waste paper.”
“You’ve been in the library for days now, not attending classes—won’t that cause trouble…”
“A bunch of fools. No matter how you teach them, they never learn.”
Cinderella’s voice was full of disdain for teaching.
Lulumiya figured this was her chance.
Cinderella hated teaching, yet hadn’t simply stopped from the beginning.
That either meant she had a soft spot, or someone at the Academy—someone even Cinderella couldn’t refuse—had insisted she teach.
Either way, it worked in Lulumiya’s favor.
“I could help you with the homework?”
Lulumiya kept her composure, but her heart was in her throat.
Cinderella, about to resume reading, stopped, her beautiful, cold face full of doubt.
“You? With a magic level of just 1? Even worse than them.”
“I could just stamp ‘Read’ for you. That’s enough to satisfy the Academy, right? And while sorting the books I glimpsed the homework—they’re all just reflections on magic practice, nothing complicated. Better than wasting Your Highness’s energy.”
Cinderella was silent for a moment.
She really couldn’t shirk teaching altogether.
The Academy Head was a highly respected figure—he’d once been her father’s, the Emperor of the Seran Empire, teacher.
She’d promised him: as long as she had access to the library, she’d teach the students.
If she went back on her word and her father found out, it would be a problem.
Clicking her tongue, Cinderella buried herself in her book for a while before muttering,
“Don’t make the handwriting too ugly.”
Lulumiya’s eyes lit up at once.
“I promise!”
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